"FOUND DROWNED." By EusEt Coopitn. AViENGED. having rested longer than she inten de'd, Lettico went to listen at her hus band's door. All was perfectly quite. A qnsr'rer of in hour la'er she crept softly ito the room, and up to the bed side. The beod was vacant. In a low minutes the whole household was in a state of commotion. It was evident the sick man had risen and dressed himself without assiasance, and slipped out of the hious, usnolserved. Searchers were soon scuattered :d)rOnd in every direction. The doctor was of opinion that ho coulil not have had strength to walk far, certainly not beyond the limits of the estate; every portion of it was explored, however, wirthout effect. At length it eas rumoured that ia man hadl been seen walking on tim heigh's, and thither the seekers at once proceeded. The object of (heir ques' was nowhier to be seen, but an advenlurous person, lying down face foremost, and cautiously stretching himself over th verge of thell clifF, descried a man's h...

MELBOURNE LI?1 I'IER. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Railway projects have continued, to occupy a large share of itiention during the last week; in faot, to judge from the conversation ugoing on around, one might suppose that a good many people are afflicted with railway on the brain, and it seems certsiu that a large number regard a railway as u universal panacea for all the evils that affect a district. The virtual purchase by the Government of the Hobson's Bay Com pany's lines has given rise to an infinity of schemes for extensions from their various termini and quickened the action of the Government in respect to their railway policy. Amongst other lires I learn on undoubted authority that the Government have decided on a direct line to Alexandra via the Upper Yarra and Lillydale, whilst it is probable the Yea and Mansfield dis tricts will be accommodated with a separate branch from the North-Eastern line, arnd probably a junction will be eventually effected near Jamieson. It now...

ALEXANDRA SHIRE COUNCIL. --4- The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the above Council was held on Tuesday last. Present-The President (Cr Knowles) and Ore Wightman. Lade, Dunn, Fergusson. Whiting, Thorn, and Jeffrey. COtE Rit PO'1NDNCE. From R. H. Moore, re balance due on contract at Reed's Creek. From the long discussion which took place in reference to this matter, and the ex amination and cross- examination of Mr Moore, it transpired that this contract had been placed in the hands of the President and Cr Thom to see that it was properly carried out. The Presi dent contended that the contract had not been carried out, the contractor contending it hadrl. Ors Witing, Wightman, and Thom having spoken on the subject, a motion was eventually carried that upon the completion of the works the contraotor should he paid. From D. E. Stodart, in reference to his former letter anent certain reserves. -Lutter received and road. From the Public Works Department, in reference to the olosed roads i...

CIIARIGE OF FOIIGERY AGAINST A LATIE MAGISTRATE. -4 Mr William Hurst, a commission agent, residing at Hawthlorn, and for many years a justice of the ponace and constant attendant as a magistrate at the local courts, was brought up at the City Police Court on Monday on a charge of forgery, namely, having forged a certain document purporting to be under the handwriting of John M'Kinnon, with fraudulent intent. As to the precise nature of the offence with which iMr Hurst is now charged, the police are reluctant to make any communication, as there are ciroumstances connected with the case which make it un desirable that the particulars should now be made public. When the case was called on, Mr Read said thlat he appeared for the accused, who was not only his client, but an old friend. Before the proceedings went any fitrther, he wished to raise an objection upon the ground that on the face of the warrant itself it ap peared that there was no offence whlatever that this court was compete...

MlAIL NEWS. -4----. A declaration against war, advertised in the lending London journals, has received 200,000 adherents. Tile garrison of the fortress of Sveaborg has boon reinforced by nearly 15,000 men, and General Yankovsky, of the Czar's suite, has left St Petersburg to assume command. The Russian Official Messenger has pub blished an appeal of the Moscow society, calling for subscriptions towards the organi sation of a volunteer fleet. The Czarewitch is patron of the society. Fenian loaders are willing to organise a force to co-operate with lue.sia against Eng land, provided the Imperial Governmenl would guarantee some p rmanont benefit to Ireland. The Canadian authorities are adopting precautions against any Fenian raids. Arms are being distributed along the border. The militia are ordered to holl themselves in readiness, and troops are being mobilisod. Yielding at length to the importunity of the Nottingham people, the Prince of Wales Irhas consented to visit that town, and ...

?ºZgfarlnd ? cE fiuidard PUeI.Iast Dn EVERT HATURIDAV " EXCELS )IIO 1." SATURDAY, 0TIH JULY. Fnoat the letter of our Melbourne cor respondent, which we publish in this issue, it appears that the Government have made up their mind to bring Alexandra into direct communication with the metropolis, via the Upper Yerra, and it must be a source of satis faction to tihe residents of this distriot that its claims to railway communication have been at length recognised. As we pointed out some time since, there is really no necessity why the touts which has been adopted should necessarily preclude the same boon being extended to Yea gt.d Mansfield, and as we per ceive from our Melbourne contem poraries that the Government contem plate adding abshout 1000 miles to the present railway system of the colony, it seems very probable that our corro spondent's surmise es to the likelihood of a separate branch from the North Eastern line, for the accommodation of the last named places, will prove cor ...

ALEXANDRA MECHANICS' IN STITUTE AND FREE LIBRARY. The first hblf-yearly meeting of the above institute was held on Monday last, in the Shire HIall, when the report and balance-sheet were read. Mr Hardy, the Preeideot, was in the chair, and there was a good attendance of the committee and general subscribers. It was resolved that inl future no one under the ago of 12 years will be admitted unless in company of their parent or guardian. IIALF-YIEAILY REPI'OIT. Your committee have now the pleasure, in obedience to the Ilth rule, to submit their first report for the information of subscribers and the public generally, and in doing so teel much gratification n stating that the institution is an assured success, both as a public benefit and in a financial point of view, the attendance of the lpublic ovincing appreciation of the benifits conlerred Your counitt.ec have gratefully to acknowledgo the liblrality of tie Alexandra Shire Council in ntt only assisting them with a money grant, but ...

C CHIPS. -4-t- !And so poor Toby was blamed for that he did write a certain epistle, my masters, in the last issue of the Btandard,signed "A lRatepayer," but yo were on the wrong scent, I do assuro you. I do not live at the Acheron, neither did I write the letter; and what I do write you will see at the end thereof the aristocratic name of " Tohy," my noble masters I I am not ashamed to put my name, for I fear not to offend, but will speak out when I see a wrong, or to give credit where credit may be due. So go on and rejoice, ye knowing ones! Ye fancy that ye can spot the right card always, but in this instance you have gone wide of the matk ! I could tell yo who wrote the letter, I can assure ye, but, well no matter, I won't. Good I George, you did that which was right, in spite of the cry of prece dent "and retrenchment," when ye went in for the widow's five-pound note; not much I but won't it do some good? rather, and he who gains the widow's blessing shall havo joy in the lend,...

BANQUET TO MR JAMES BLAIN. On Thursday evening a number of the leading residents of Alexandra assembled at the Corner hotel, for the purpose of saying adieu to Mr James Blain, who, after a residence of some ten years, is about leaving the district for Queensland. The chair was occu- pied by J. P. Bainbridge, Esq, J.P., the vice-chair by George Whiting, Esq. A supper had been provided in Host Hamen's usual capital manner, to which those present did ample justice. When the tables were cleared, and the usual loyal toasts had been drunk in a true loyal manner, The chairman rose and said--Gentle- men, as we are about to lose a most valuable and energetic citizen in the &amp;nbsp; person of our guest to-night, I am quite sure it is with regret on all sides that Mr Blain has determined to sever his connexion with the Alexandra district, in which, for more than ten years, he has been a resident--cheers--and dur- ing which time he has secured the good- will and respect of all classes of ...

TREATM1EINT OF DIPIITIERIA. Mr George Osborne, writes to the Iolawarra Mercury, as follows :--"Mr John Newson, bricklayer, in my employ at the now public seho.l buildings, Charcoal, a few weeks since lost his eldest child, owing to diphtheria. Last week another child in the samo family became seriously affceted, and, although under skilful treatment, the disease had spread so rapidly that no hope was entertained for its recovery. On Friday last, while the father of the child was slacking limo in my presence, he was describing to me the suffer tng his poor child had to endure, especially while brushing the throat, a suggestion accidentally o,.currod to me that if it were possible to have the patient held over the steam ascending from the lime while under the process of slacking, that probably good results might be produced. The lather, anxious to do anything to save the chili's life, adopted the suggestion, anud took a lump of the unslacked stone lime to his r.sidence, put it in a ba...